Halifax Habitat for Humanityhas enjoyed long-term partnerships with local Rotary Clubs and Florida Power & Light Company. The synergy created by these partnerships resulted in an ideal opportunity to “energize” a Habitat home build project with a local military veteran.

Larry Volenec, prescription FPL External Affairs manager, unhealthy made a $10,000 donation to Halifax Habitat for Humanity on behalf of the company to support the veteran build house sponsorship by the Rotary Club of Daytona Beach West.

The veteran build projects honor those local veterans who have visible and invisible wounds of war. The Rotary Club committed its resources to raise the necessary funds to build this home and expressed their gratitude to FPL for its involvement in this special partnership.

“Military veterans in the communities we serve have made sacrifices that we all should commend,” said Volenec. “Gratitude for us means rolling up our sleeves and continuing our long-held tradition of supporting those in uniform who have served our country by volunteering to work on this Habitat project and saying ‘thank you.’”

FPL will also provide a grant through its solar water heater program which includes the full cost of materials and installation of a solar energy water heater for the home.

In October 2015, Halifax Habitat for Humanity held a groundbreaking ceremony for this home and construction is underway. A team of FPL Cares volunteers participated in a volunteer work day on Saturday, Jan. 23. It was a cold day, but that didn’t stop the team from finishing their tasks and having a wonderful time together.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Military veteran and homeowner candidate, Mario Figueroa, and his family are currently working on the completion of their ‘sweat equity’ hours on the construction site. Habitat for Humanity’s ‘sweat equity’ serves as the future homeowner’s down-payment.

Habitat for Humanity is not a “give-away” program, but rather a true “hand-up” that allows for the homeowner to be a part of their housing solution. When the house is completed, Habitat for Humanity (HFH) sells the home to the new homeowner at no profit to HFH and provides a zero-interest mortgage for the life of the loan. All mortgage payments build equity for the homeowner while they also provide support for the next Habitat build.

For more information on the Habitat Homeownership program or to volunteer or donate, please call 386-257-9950 or email info@halifaxhabitat.org.